George-Kelly joins Rivers APC governorship race
The Rivers State Rainbow Coalition aligned with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Chief Nyesom Wike, has reportedly adopted Alabo Dakorinama George-Kelly as its preferred governorship aspirant for the
The Rivers State Rainbow Coalition aligned with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Chief Nyesom Wike, has reportedly adopted Alabo Dakorinama George-Kelly as its preferred governorship aspirant for the All Progressives Congress (APC) primaries.
Sources indicated that members of the coalition are optimistic about George-Kelly’s entry into the race, noting that he hails from the Kalabari Ijaw axis, a riverine area widely considered in ongoing political discussions about succession in the state.
George-Kelly, a known ally of Wike and a prominent figure within the coalition, is seen as a candidate whose emergence would align with calls for power rotation to the riverine communities after Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
A trained quantity surveyor and civil engineer, he served as Commissioner for Works under former Governor Wike and was retained in the same role by Governor Fubara. He later resigned twice amid the political crisis in the state, a move widely interpreted as a demonstration of loyalty to Wike.
He had earlier contested the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship primary in 2022, finishing second to Fubara, and was subsequently appointed Director-General of the Border Communities Development Agency (BCDA) by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Although the coalition has yet to make an official announcement, a source familiar with the development said George-Kelly has already obtained the APC nomination and expression of interest forms ahead of the primary election.
"Among all the coalition members, George-Kelly is the only one that has purchased the APC forms and we know that he would not have done so without the consent of the Minister.
"This is a sign that he has the blessings of the coalition leader and will eventually emerge as the candidate of the APC for the election," he said.
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When asked about the fate of the House of Representatives Minority Leader, OK Chinda, who was initially speculated as the coalition's candidate, the source said Chinda had not been totally ruled out of consideration.
He said, "This is where this game gets interesting. The leaders of the coalition is a political sage and master strategist. When the report of Chinda emerged, he weighed the reaction of members of the public.
"That report created some storm even in the coalition because Chinda hails from Obio-Akpor and some people read the development as selfish. Apart from that the name did not resonate with many stakeholders in the state.
"But immediately the report of George-Kelly on APC platform broke out, there was jubilation across the state. The report calmed all nerves because the name resonated among all the stakeholders especially the youths. People are happy that George-Kelly has joined the governorship race. We believe that Wike is receiving reports about the duo and analysing their personalities.
"One thing is clear. The objective is to present a loyal candidate that will appeal to all stakeholders including those, who are standing with Governor Fubara. But George-Kelly despite hailing from the riverine Ijaw area of the state, seems to have the expected mass appeal. It is not about ethnicity, it is more about personality".
"We know that the leader of the coalition knows what he is doing. One thing is sure, the coalition will produce the candidates for the APC and the PDP in the state and the leader will engage in consultations to select one of them."
